Fox's Alan Colmes ripped Donald Trump’s claim to be a uniter: “Maybe he’ll unite the warring factions of the white supremacists,” but “he’s gotten where he’s gotten, by insulting people,” Colmes said. Fox host – and apparent Trump apologist – Heather Childers took offense.
The discussion was a response to Trump's press conference last night in which he began holding himself out as the presumptive Republican nominee. Colmes started by noting what Childers should have: that the so-called Trump steaks served at his press conference last night were not actually Trump steaks.
But then Colmes got to Trump’s call that “it’s time to unify.”
COLMES: How is he going to unite? By taking back the things he said about Latinos, Mexicans, women? Things he said about Bush, things he said about Romney? He’s now going to all of a sudden pivot and unite those people?
Maybe he’ll unite the warring factions of white supremacists, but I don’t think he’s going to unite people who he’s spent the last number of months, insulting. That’s how he’s gotten where he’s gotten, by insulting people.
Childers was obviously taken aback that anyone on Fox should speak so bluntly about Trump supporters.
She paused for a moment, perhaps nonplussed or perhaps to listen to a producer telling her she’d better counter this anti-Trump talk, pronto.
“Yeah, um, and I think you actually just insulted a lot of Trump followers by calling them white supremacists,” Childers replied.
“I didn’t say all Trump followers are white supremacists, that’s not what I said,” Colmes responded. “I didn’t say that. What I said was, he’s got white supremacist support, but I’m not in any way shape or form calling them all white supremacists… I want to be very clear about that.”
“Thank you for clarifying that,” Childers said.
Of course, it didn’t matter about any of the people Trump has insulted. But emphasizing that he's supported by white supremacists (which Trump failed to disavow)? That’s a Fox no-no.
Later, Colmes noted that Fox’s own Dan Springer reported that Trump is “losing in the late deciders” and “also down among Republicans from 37% to 34%.” So, it’s possible, Colmes continued, Trump really could lose at the convention.
Childers chimed in, “I want to know if anyone would bet against him at this point.”
It’s not surprising that Childers should make nice about Trump. This is the Fox host who “just wondered” if candidate Barack Obama had threatened to have Chelsea Clinton killed in order to keep Bill and Hillary Clinton mum about his birth certificate.
Still, Colmes' comment got out and that’s probably what everyone will remember about this segment. And notice how he neatly reframed the discussion to make it more opportune for him. That is why I continue to think he is one of the best liberals who appear on Fox. There are plenty professional "Democratic strategists" who could take a lesson.
Watch it above, from the March 9 Happening Now, via Raw Story.
Crossposted at News Hounds.
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